Media Contact

Ariana Schechter, 603-227-6679

May 23, 2019

CONCORD, N.H. - Today, the New Hampshire House of Representatives voted to repeal the death penalty in the Granite State, overriding Governor Sununu’s veto of the legislation. After an initial floor vote in April of 279-88, today’s vote came in at 247-123, continuing the repeal momentum seen throughout the year. The bill will next move to the state Senate, which previously voted 17-6 in favor of repeal last month.

“Today’s vote by the N.H. House is an incredible vote of confidence that the death penalty is wrong and must be repealed,” said Devon Chaffee, Executive Director of the ACLU of New Hampshire. “State Representatives from different political parties, different walks of life, and different parts of the state came together twice in overwhelming majority to clearly state that New Hampshire can live without the death penalty. We urge the Senate to follow suit so we can abolish this archaic practice once and for all.”

“The New Hampshire legislature has stood with incredible solidarity in support of repealing the death penalty,” said Jeanne Hruska, Political Director at the ACLU of New Hampshire. “We are grateful for the members who have time and again voted in favor of repeal, who are new to voting for repeal, and who have taken the time to learn more about why capital punishment should be abandoned. Today’s vote reiterated that repealing the death penalty is not an issue of politics or party, but one that calls upon our common humanity.”